Air compressor unit



A. HALLETT 4 AIR COMPRESSOR UNIT Filed OCC. 25, 1934 May 17,1938.L

Mfr@ d J/a QZTOR BY l M1 A TTORNE Y.

Patented May 17, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 12 Claims.

This invention relates to an air `compressor unit, and particularly to air compressor units such as are used in automobile, truck andgasoline service stations, garages and other similar places, or `.in any place Where an air compressor unit is desired.

An object of this invention is to provide a novel air compressor unit that will require a minimum amount of floor space when installed for use.

An object is to provide a novel air compressor unit that is simple and compact Vin its construction and arrangement of parts and `in its assembly.

Another object is to Aprovide a novel air com pressor unit in which all the working parts -may be shielded or practically completely enclosed thereby providing a unit, the Working parts of which, will not be likely to injure persons in close proximity thereto; and at the same time insuring adequate ,ventilation and cooling of the working parts, and ease of accessibility thereto.

Another object is to provide a novel air com presser unit that is novel and neat in appearance, and which may be .easily maintained in a clean condition, and which is ornamental and will harmonize with the general architecture of present modern service stations.

A still further object is to provide a novel construction in air compressor units having the above characteristics in which the `belt from `:the

motor to the air compressor may be easily, quickly and accurately adjusted.

The invention includes the parts, and `combinations of parts `more particularly hereinafter described in detail and pointed out in the .ap- *"5 pended claims.

Other objects, `advantages and features of invention may appear from the accompanying drawing, the subjoined detail description, and the appended claims.

The accompanying drawing illustrates the in vention in a form I at present deem preferable.

Figure l is a side elevational view `of an air compressor unit constructed in accordance with o my invention. A portion of the housing is broken away to disclose parts that Would otherwise be hidden. i

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view on enlarged scale, partly in side elevation, and partly in section as 0 viewed on irregular line 2 2, Fig. l. Dotted lines more or less diagrammatically illustrate an air compressor.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 3--3, Fig. '2, looking in the direction ofthe arrows, and showing in plan the platform for supporting the motor which is shown in dot and dash lines.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the motor supporting platform and associated parts, illustrating the adjustable mounting of such platform.

My invention comprises a base member I, preferably flat and circular in shape, and having vertical uprights or supports 2 fixed at their lower ends to the base I in any suitable manner,.as by bolts a, and the upper ends of said uprights are connected to one end of an air receiver tank 3 in any suitable manner, preferably by welding the same thereto. The supports 2 are preferably angle-irons and four in number spaced around tank 3 in quadrilateral relation, and the tank 3 is arranged in vertical position, that is, with its ends 4 one above the other.

'I'he base I is provided with an upstanding ilange 6 that extends around the periphery of the base a short distance inwardly of the outer edge thereof. The flangev 6 forms a stop for the lower edge of a jacket or housing 1 which rests on that portion of base I between flange 6 and its outer periphery when assembled. The vhousing 'I entirely encloses the upiights or supports 2 and is preferably divided into ytvvo parts 9, Ill that may be hinged together at one side, as at I I, and the free edges or sides provided with any suitable latch or fastening means I2 tov maintain the housing in closed position, or the hinge `may be eliminated and latch means I2 substituted therefor.

The housing 'I extends above the lower end "4 of tank 3 and is spaced therefrom and terminates a 4short distance `below a downwardly and outwardly curved ilange or hood 5 that is iixed to tank 3. This spacing of housing 'I fromthe tank 3 and flange 5 forms an air outlet space or passageway 8.

At the lower portion or base of housing I an aperture `ZJy is provided that forms an air inlet to. the housing 7, and a, screen I3covers such aperture to prevent foreign substances passing therethrough.

A suitable air `compressor I4 is mounted on base I and carries a combined flywheel and pulley Wheel I5 having spokes I6 that are dished to form fan blades that draw air into the housing or jacket 'I through the screened opening by, adl preferably connected by belts I'I to drive the air compressor I4.

The platform I9 is provided at one end with a pair of depending lugs 20 that are pivotally connected to a pair of uprlghts 2 by any suitable means, as by the bolts and nuts 2 I The opposite end of platform I9 is reduced as at c to form a narrowed extension or tongue 22 that extends underneath the drive pulley d of Amotor I8 and between the loop dened by the belts I1 trained over pulley d. A cross member 23 is xed to the uprights 2 opposite those to which the platform I9 is pivoted, and an inverted U-shaped straddle bar 24 is connected to cross member 23 in such manner as to receive and straddle the extension 22 which projects therethrough. A set screw 25 threaded through bar 24 engages the upper side of extension 22 and a set screw 25' engages the under side of extension 22. Each of the set screws 25, 25' is provided with lock nuts f to lock screws 25, 25 in adjusted position. By adjustment of the screws 25, 25 the platform I9 may be raised or lowered so as to permit easy placement or replacement and tensioning of the belts I'I, and at the same time secure the platform I9 in rigid adjusted position.

A cross member 26 connected to a pair of uprights 2 at one side of motor I8 provides a support for a suitable automatic pressure switch 21 that is connected by a conduit 28 to tank 3 to control operation of motor I8 depending on the pressure in tank 3.

An air line 29 connects the compressor I4 to the tank 3, and a drain pipe 30 for all lines protrudes from the housing 1 at the bottom thereof. An air gauge 3| and safety valve 32 are connected to tank 3, and inspection openings closed by plugs 33 are also provided in tank 3.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided an air compressor unit which is vertical in its installation, that is the air receiver tank 3 is mounted on its end and extends vertically above the air compressor and the operating motor I8 is mounted on an adjustable platform between the motor I8 and tank 3, and that all such working parts are entirely enclosed, except for opening b, but which is screen covered thereby making a neat, compact, and sightly apparatus that is safe from persons contacting its working parts when the housing is in position and which will require but a minimum of floor space, that actually required being only slightly greater than the diameter of the air receiver tank 3.

When the air compressor I4 is operated by motor I8 the fan blade spokes I 6 will draw cool air through screened opening b and direct such cool air over the compressor I4 after which it will be deflected over` motor I8 and thence through the air outlet passageway 8 at the top of housing or jacket 1, and I have found that by such construction and arrangement of parts that they will thus be effectively cooled and permit them to be enclosed in a housing as above set forth.

I claim:

1. In an air compressor unit, the combination of an elongate air receiver tank mounted with its longitudinal axis in a substantially vertical plane;

. a supporting frame for said tank; an air compressor and operating means for said compressor, bothl mounted below said tank and within the area delineated by said supporting frame; and a housing having an air inlet adjacent its lower end, said housing enclosing said frame, cmpressor and operating means and being spaced 'alf Compressor;

from said tank at its upper edge to form an air outlet passage.

2. In an air compressor unit, the combination of an elongate air receiver tank mounted with its longitudinal axis in a substantially vertical plane; a supporting frame for said tank; an air compressor and operating means for said compressor, both mounted below said tank and within the area delineated by said supporting frame; a housing having an air inlet adjacent its lower end, said housing enclosing said frame, compressor and operating means and being spaced from said tank at its upper edge to form an air outlet passage; and a hood secured to said tank and overhanging the upper edge of said housing and being spaced from said housing.

3. In an air compressor unit, an elongate air receiver tank mounted with its longitudinal axis in a substantially vertical plane; a supporting frame for said tank; an air compressor; a supporting platform pivotally connected at one end to said frame; a cross member secured to said frame; a U-shaped straddle bar connected to said cross member and straddling the free end of said platform; means mounted on said platform and being connected to operate said compressor; and means connected to said cross member and said straddle bar to adjust and secure the free end of said platform in fixed adjusted position relative to said compressor.

4. The combination of an air receiver tank; an frame means supporting said tank above said compressor; a platform between said tank and said compressor; hinge means connecting one end of said platform to said frame; means adjustably connecting the other end of said platform to said frame to permit vertical shifting of one end of said platform relative to said compressor; compressor operating means mounted on said platform; and linking means connecting said operating means to said compressor and being adjusted relative to said operating means and compressor by adjustment of one end of said platform.

5. In an air compressor unit; an air receiver tank; a frame supporting said tank; an air compressor mounted within said frame and below said tank; a platform between said tank and said compressor and being pivotally connected at one end to said frame; compressor operating means mounted on said platform; looped belt means connecting said compressor and said operating means; the free end of said platform extending between the loop formed by said belt means; and means to adjust the free end of said platform to increase or decrease the tightness of said belt means connection between said compressor and said operating means.

6. In an air compresso-r unit; an air receiver tank; a frame supporting said tank; an air compressor mounted within said frame and below said tank; a platform between said tank and said compressor and being pivotally connected at one end to said frame; compressor operating means mounted on said platform; looped belt means connecting said compressor and said operating means; the free end of said platform extending between the loop formed by said belt means; means to adjust the free end of said platform to increase or decrease the tightness of said belt means connection between said compressor and said operating means; and a housing enclosing said frame and having an air inlet at its lower end and being spaced from said tank at its upper end to provide an air outlet passage.

7. In an air compressor unit; an air receiver tank; a frame supporting said tank; an air compressor mounted within said frame and below said tank; a platform between said tank and said compressor and being pivotally connected at one end to said frame; compressor operating means mounted on said platform; looped belt means connecting said compressor and said operating means; the free end of said platform extending between the loop formed by said belt means; means to adjust the free end of said platform to increase or decrease the tightness of said belt means connection between said compressor and said operating means; and a housing enclosing said frame and having an air inlet at its bottom and an air outlet at its top.

8. In an air compressor unit; an air receiver tank; a frame supporting said tank; an air compressor mounted within said frame and below said tank; a platform between said tank and said compressor and being pivotally connected at one end to said frame; compressor operating means mounted on said platform; looped belt means connecting said compressor and said operating means; the free end of said platform extending between the loop formed by said belt means; means to adjust the free end of said platform to increase or decrease the tightness of said belt means connection between said compressor and said operating means; a housing enclosing said frame and having an air inlet at its bottom and an air outlet at its top; and means operated by said compressor operating means to cause a circulation of air throughout said house ing during operation of said air compressor.

9. In an air compressor unit; an air receiver tank; a frame supporting said tank; an air compressor mounted Within said frame and below said tank; a platform between said tank and said compressor and being pivotally connected at one end to said frame; compressor operating means mounted on said platform; looped belt means connecting said compressor and said operating means; the free end of said platform extending between the loop formed by said belt means; means to adjust the free end of said platform to increase or decrease the tightness of said belt means connection between said compressor and said operating means; a housing enclosing said frame and having an air inlet at its lower end and being spaced from said tank at its upper end to provide an air outlet passage; and a hood secured to said tank and overhang-lng the upper end of, and being spaced from, said housing.

10. In an air compressor unit, the combination of an elongate air receiver tank mounted with its longitudinal axis in a substantially vertical plane; a supporting frame for said tank; an air compressor and operating means for said compressor, both mounted below-said tank and within the area delineated by said supporting frame; a housing having an air inlet adjacent its lower end, said housing enclosing said frame, compressor and operating means and being spaced from said tank at its upper edge to form an air outlet passage; and means for maintaining during operation of said compressor, a circulation of air throughout the interior of said housing.

l1. In an air compressor unit, the combination of an air receiver tank; a supporting frame for said tank; an air compressor; operating means for said compressor; means adjustably relating said air compressor and operating means; said compressor and operating means both being mounted within the area delineated by said supporting frame; and a housing enclosing said frame, compressor, and operating means and being spaced from said tank at its upper end.

12. In an air compressor unit, the combination of an air receiver; a supporting frame for said tank; an air compressor; operating means for said compressor; means adjustably relating said air compressor and operating means; said compressor and operating means both being mounted within the area delineated by said supporting frame; a housing enclosing said frame, compressor, and operating means and being spaced from said tank at its upper end; and a hood secured to said tank and overhanging the upper end of, and being spaced from, said housing.

ALFRED HALLEI'I. 

